Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-08-04
there came a Sham knock at the door,

there came q sharp knock at the door,
and with a cry of Father" on her lips,
she rushed to open it, to he for an instant
blinded by the icy blast and the thick
whiteness of the falling snow. The chill
dren raised n shout of "Mr. Gottorp' MIR.
Eric!' and Bah perceived it was not her
father who stood there. but the tall Dane,
whose coming seemed scarcely a sur
prise, SO constantly had his presence been
with her in her dreams.
1t seemed to her that this welcome
guest had not been within the house
three minutes before all her cares were
transferred To his broad shoulders, he so
quickly learned the cause of the anxious
faces of mother and children, and, in less
time than il takes ia tell, was equipped
with wraps and festoratlves, ready for
the search it seemed a matter OF course
he should make for the truants. He
paused at the door as Barbara held it
open for him and took one glimpse of the
peaceful parlor, with the ruddy freight
glowing on the group of children and the
frail mother, then looking down at the
girls sweet, earnest face, raised toward
him as she gave directions as 10 his road,
a wave of love for her, and pity for the
news he felt it quite possible he might
have to bring her, made him bend and
press a kiss on her forehead, as he said
f~ervently:
''My darling, try and believe I will
bring them safely"
He felt the light pressure Of her hand,
and saw the soft light of love in her eyes;
and in this fashion, in the moment of sus-
pense and anxiety, their troth was
~plighted.
Eric Gottorp found his task was no
light one, and. accustomed as he was TO
face all weathers, yet he wished he had
sought help before starting, as the path
across the downs was impossible TO trace,
and he could only guess its whereabouts
from the distance he remembered it to he
from the cliff. He battled on, however,
as quickly as was practicable, giving q
call now and then that carried far in
spite of the dense atmosphere, and, as he
paused 10 listen, he fancied, far away to
his left, he heard a faint reply. Contin-
uing his shouts, and following the direc.
tIon Of the answering sounds, he came at
length on a pitiable spectacle. Mr.. Ire
gage, in his persistent endeavors To reach
his home, had wandered from the path;
and in attempting TO regain it-burdened
as he was with ~Tommy-had tried TO
make his way over a fence, against which
the had drifted 10 a thickness Of
more than four feet. He had fallen, and
still clasping the little boy in his arms
wa lying well nigh frozen and in severe
pain, when Gottorp's welcome cry came
10 give him hope Of rescue. Eric found
to his dismay that the poor mans leg was
broken, and Tommy's condition de-
manded immediate care, SO he was
obliged to leave the unlucky schoolmastcr
while he carried the child to his home.
He first, with all a sailors hardness,
contrived a temporary splint with hs
walking stick and a long scarf, and, COW
ering the sufferer with a wrap, he went
TO seek help toconvey him TO ST. JuliottS
The day Of the snow storm becaIs
almost as memorable in the village as tA
night of the wreck. and Barbara speedi =
forgot the anxiety and suspense she hac
endured in the new and happy life befoIt
her.
During his enforced absence from hi
duties Mr.. Tregage had many ~opportuni.
ties of discovering that foreigners are noi
all alike, and his gratitude for the Dane't
kindly help ripened into respect and af.
lection, so that when the flush Of sprins
frightened st. Juliotts, it was with no
half hearted consent he gave his daughter
' TO Eric Gottorp. Barbara has told her
new sisters many tales of her native VIII
lage; but she and her husband share be-
tween them the little history of Some
body's Secret. IN. r. L. in Cassell's
Magazine.